From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi
The Kebbi State government has donated the sum of N20 million to traders whose goods were destroyed by fire outbreak at Argungu market in Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi.
It could be recalls that the inferno recently engulfed Argungu market where a number of shops owner’s lost millions of naira to the inferno.
While distributing the money to the affected traders at the Emir of Argungu’s palace in Argungu on Thursday, the Deputy Governor, Senstor Umar Abubakar-Tafida, said the money was not meant to settle the loses incurred by the traders but to cushion the effects of the ugly incident.
Tagida assured the traders that a standing committee has been set-up to ensure evenly distribution of the money, stressed that all affected persons would be treated fairly.
The deputy governor advised the beneficiaries to ensure that the money received were utilized judiciously put so that they could improve their respective businesses.
Earlier,in his speech, the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammad Sama’ila-Mera represented by the High Chief of the Argungu Emirate council,Gurduden Kabi, Alhaji Ibrahim Kuldo, appreciated the state government for what he described as a holistic approach and prompt response to the plight of common people.
The Monarch, lauded the deputy governor for visiting the scene of the fire outbreak immediately when the incident happened, stressed that it was a signed of good leadership.
The Chairman, Kebbi State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA), Alhaji Bello Yakubu-Rilisco while speaking with newsmen, said the present administration under the leadership of Governor Nasir Idris remained a government that brings succour to its people.
According to him, “Whenever and wherever something happened, be it fire, flood, windstorm, displacement among others, His Excellency ensures that government reaches out to the affected people to cushion the effect of that disaster.
“Therefore what we are witnessing today is just one out many other efforts of our amiable governor. Let me use this medium to appeal to the beneficiaries of today’s gesture to make judicious use of the money to improve their livelihood,” Yakubu advised.
While responding on behalf of his members, the Chairman, Argungu Traders’ Association, Alhaji Labbon Fakon-Sarki thanked the Kebbi government for the gesture and assured that the beneficiaries would put the money to good use.